Our Team: Midwest

Southfield, MI

Since 2022, Tracie has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Tracie is a subject matter expert for child welfare projects. She has over 27 years of child welfare experience at both the direct-service and macro levels, including work with Practice Model development and implementation, Team Decision Making, Family Preservation and Reunification, Parent Partner implementation and training, and as a Reviewer (Quality Service Review and Child & Family Service Review). Tracie received her master’s in social work from Eastern Michigan University. When not working, Tracie enjoys spending time with family, friends and her dog, cooking, dancing, and traveling.

Saint Johns, Michigan

Since 2022, Wendy has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Wendy is responsible for providing change and implementation support to child welfare jurisdictions across various project areas, including agency assessment, financing, continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices, and the effective use of data toward achieving sustainable program improvements and outcomes.

Wendy has 25 years of experience working with state and local child welfare agencies, from front-line specialists to statewide leadership. Her experience includes work on behalf of multiple program areas, including child protection, foster care, adoption/guardianship, and juvenile justice.

Wendy received her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University. She enjoys the outdoors, music, and time with family and friends when not working.

Denver, CO

Since 2022, Ron has been the Systems Practice Director at Public Knowledge®. Ron is the Systems Practice Director at Public Knowledge® and has led multiple internal communities of practice related to Medicaid, Healthcare, and System Certification.

As a consultant, he has been a project manager on multiple Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing procurement projects. He has held leadership positions on the Nevada MMIS Replacement, Wyoming WYFI Certification, Montana MPATH IV&V, Minnesota Modernization IV&V, and South Carolina MMIS IV&V projects.

Ron has over 25 years of experience working with state agencies, public assistance programs, and Medicaid systems. Ron has an extensive background in project management and large-scale system development, integration, and deployment. Ron is a project management professional (PMP) and has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Ron enjoys Rocky Mountain-related outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, snowboarding, and fishing.

Cedarburg, WI 

Since 2023, Lindsay has been the Industry Practice Director for Child Welfare at Public Knowledge®. Lindsay is a subject matter expert for child welfare projects and is the project manager of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Pre-Service Training Redesign Project. She has over 13 years of child welfare experience working with state and local agencies, foster care programs, strategic planning, change and implementation support, data analysis, and direct practice experience with children and families. Lindsay received her master’s in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is certified as a social worker. She enjoys being active, spending time outside with her family, and traveling when not working.

Glenview, IL

Since 2015, Joan has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Joan is responsible for providing change and implementation support to child welfare jurisdictions across a variety of project areas, including agency assessment, federal and state strategic planning, agency accreditation, continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices, and the effective use of data towards the achievement of sustainable program improvements and outcomes.

Joan has over 30 years of experience working with state and local child welfare agencies and currently serves as an implementation specialist and national authority in CQI for the Capacity Building Center for States. She received her Master of Arts from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. When not working, Joan enjoys cycling, traveling, and enjoying time with family and friends.

Fort Collins, CO

Since 2022, Alicia has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®.  Alicia is responsible for tracking project management activities, project control, information analysis, and developing quality deliverables for our clients.  Alicia had over 11 years of higher education before PK.  For four years, she has project managing experience with Night to Shine, a prom for people with special needs sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation.  Alicia received her BS in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University.  When not working, Alicia enjoys traveling, being with her family, taking in sports games, and the beach.

Saltillo, MS

Since 2018, Tracy has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Tracy is responsible as the project manager for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Comprehensive Child Welfare Reform project. She also serves as an implementation specialist with the Capacity Building Center for States for the Strengthening Child Welfare Services grant in Washington.   

Tracy has over 30 years of experience in child welfare and spent 28 years with the Mississippi public child welfare agency. She received her MSW from the University of Southern Mississippi and is a licensed social worker. When not working, Tracy enjoys reading, singing, and spending time with her family.    

Springfield, TN

Since 1996, Jeff has been a management consultant for Public Knowledge®.  Jeff has held prior positions with Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services. His most recent responsibilities included acting as the director of placement and provider services for 13 years. As recently as May of 2020, they were the director of contracts and procurement with Tennessee DCS. Jeff lives in Springfield, TN, and when not working, he enjoys playing golf and spending time with his children and grandchildren.    

Franklin, TN

Since 2019, Doug has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. He brings over 30 years of child welfare financing experience to Public Knowledge. He spent the last seven years as the Assistant Commissioner of Finance and Budget for the Tennessee Department of Children Services. Doug oversaw all financial operations of the agency’s one-billion-dollar budget.   

Doug oversees Public Knowledge®’s financing work in South Carolina, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Missouri. He received his master’s from Truman State University (formerly) Northeast Missouri State University). When not working, Doug enjoys playing golf and attending Belmont University basketball games with his family.